Seoul's Gangdong-gu received a commendation from the Minister of Health and Welfare at the "2026 Disability Health Management Project Integrated Performance Conference," held June 26 at Maria Hall in the Seonguihoe Building of Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University of Korea, district mayor Lee Su-hee announced.
The commendation followed Gangdong-gu's selection as a top-performing institution in the 2025 disability health management project evaluation, which assessed 262 public health centers nationwide. The district has now posted outstanding results in the program for six consecutive years, following a Seoul Metropolitan Government mayor's award in 2021.
Co-hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Rehabilitation Center, the conference drew about 500 people involved in disability health management programs. Participants shared best practices and discussed community-centered approaches to disability health cooperation.
Gangdong-gu has pursued a range of programs through its community rehabilitation council to support health management and community reintegration for people with disabilities.
A standout initiative is the district's comprehensive health screening support program for people with disabilities — a Gangdong-gu-exclusive project that has operated continuously since 2019 with sponsorship from Dol Korea Co.
The program runs through close cooperation and division of roles among affiliated organizations within the Gangdong-gu community rehabilitation council. The district identifies the health status of people with disabilities at an early stage and connects them with necessary services, enabling them to live stably within the community even after acquiring a disability.
Since 2025, the district has also been running a three-year tailored support program for elderly people with disabilities. Now in its second year, the program focuses on linking health management with lifestyle support in ways that reflect the physical and social characteristics of older people with disabilities.
The Gangdong-gu Community Rehabilitation Council is a public-private consultative body centered on the Gangdong-gu Public Health Center and comprising the heads and working-level staff of eight institutions, including Gangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital, the Seoul Metropolitan Comprehensive Welfare Center for the Disabled and the Seoul Southern Regional Disability Health and Medical Center. Member organizations share information and coordinate services to deliver more efficient and practical rehabilitation services to people with disabilities.
"This award recognizes the efforts of the many institutions and frontline workers who worked alongside us to carefully look after the health of people with disabilities," district mayor Lee said. "We will continue to strengthen the network connecting health, medical and welfare services so that every resident with a disability can access the help they need and live a healthier, safer daily life."
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